Turin

History

The Turinese Empire was formed 750 years ago, the year 1 TN in the Turinese calendar, when the governor of the city-state of Turin conquered the neighboring city-states and declared himself Praetor. Over the next 240 years, the Turinese empire expanded until, by the year 241 TN, it stretched along the coast from Pernik to Urfa and on the southern coast from Kirikkale to Khanaqin, as well as the Finicate Islands and the islands of Thasos, Cephalonia, Capri, Comin, Elba and Limasol.

Trouble first began for the empire when in 251 TN the governors of Sinop and Urfa banded together to throw out the empire's forces and again become independent city states. Then, in 373 TN, the Yarbakan people united in religious fervor to kick the Turinese out of the southern Aqaba. This began a long series of wars, battles and skirmishes between the Turinese and Yarbakan Empires, mainly over the rights to the islands which separate the Aqaba from the Ocean.

In 531 TN, the Okaffeans from Euboea attacked the mainland and captured the cities of Pernik and Vidin. The Turinese Empire, realizing that Euboea was a greater threat, quickly sued for peace with Yarbak and switched its attentions to the north, beginning a 100 year stalemate with Euboea.

In 586 TN, feeling that they had Euboea well under control, Turin once again attacked the islands. Though they managed to retake Comin and Elba, it was with great struggle and they once again made peace with Yarbak in 591 TN.

By 636 TN, Turin found itself too weak to stop the newly aggressive advances of Euboea. By 666 TN Euboea had expanded down the coast to Durres. By 727 TN, Turin was too weak to stop Euboea from taking Sibiu, and in 743 TN they practically gave the island of Cephalonia to Euboea to avoid entering into a bloody, costly battle.

Religion & Culture

Basic Philosophy

Life is seen as an ongoing conflict between the aspects of humanity and the forces of nature.

Origin Myth/Cosmology

The world was created by Solus, the sun and Luna, the moon. They created it in three parts: Agua, the water, Terra, the earth, and Aeris, the sky. They then created the seven gods and instructed them to create humanity, which they did. The seven gods are: Barus, god of war, Etiene, goddess of love, Zemo, god of intellect, Loran, god of strength, Kara, goddess of Art, Aphene, goddess of life and body, and Linus, god of communication. However, Agua, Terra and Aeris were jealous of the humans and the seven aspects, so they captured the seven gods and imprisoned them in the sky, where they appear as the seven planets.

Beliefs

The Turinese believe that the forces of nature are against humanity and are constantly trying to destroy them, which accounts for earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons etc. They believe that by showing faithful service to the gods during life they will be chosen to become part of the gods' army, which they are creating and appear as stars in the nighttime sky.

There are many temples across Turin which are devoted to the individual gods. Each temple is headed by a high priest or priestess, who has between two and twenty clerics which serve under him or her. The high priest is always the same sex as that of the god which the temple serves. The temples are supported by a combination of donations and money from taxes.

The Turinese believe that rune magic was given to them by Solus and Luna to help them control the elements in their battle against them.

Culture

Though the Turinese Empire is now only a shadow of its former glory, the Turinese people are still a very proud culture. The Turinese religion and culture still flourishes in Sinop and Urfa and is secretly adhered to in most parts of the mainland under Euboean control.
The Praetor lives in his palace in the city of Turin, from where he rules with absolute authority, though he has a great many number of advisors with whom he consults and a large number of deputies to which he leaves the day to day operation of the empire. The other cities in the empire the Praetor controls though his appointed governors.
The main objectives of the current Turinese government is to stop further Euboean expansion into their empire and to try, within reason, to maintain peace with the Yarbakan Empire so that Turin can focus its resources on stopping Euboea.

Calendar

The year is divided up into seven months of 52 days each. The days are grouped into four weeks, each having thirteen days. Each of the months is named after one of the gods, with the year beginning at the winter solstice.